Gaps and Barriers to the Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes in Hospitals of Pakistan.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia, mainly due to inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) and the widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics. Pakistan is the third largest low-middle-income country (LMIC) user of antibiotics. Antibiotic consumption increased by 65%, from 800 million to 1.

Risk of Potential Invasive Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in Major Cardiothoracic Surgeries.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) commonly colonise municipal water supplies and cause healthcare-associated outbreaks. Although the infections are rare, they are associated with high mortality.  Aerosolization of NTM from colonised Heater cooler devices causes invasive infections in cardiac surgery patients.

Commodifying Vaccines to Curtail Antibiotic Resistance Impact in Malaria Endemic Countries.

Rampant and prevalent deployment of an efficient malaria vaccine in Pakistan, together with basic control and preventive measures, could significantly decrease the economic and healthcare burden caused by drug-resistant malaria. Moreover, RTS, S/AS01 vaccine has attained a much-needed breakthrough after decades of growth, as an innovative vaccine for malaria in Phase III clinical trials, and presently undergoing implementation studies. So far Gavi, WHO, and other stakeholders are contemplating on the practical issues, risk-benefit, and cost-effectiveness in resource-limited settings of vaccine implementation capacity.

Malaria vaccines to moderate the impact of antibiotic resistance in endemic countries.

Swift and widespread deployment of an efficient malaria vaccine in Pakistan, together with basic control and preventive measures, could significantly decrease the economic and healthcare burden caused by drug-resistant malaria. Moreover, the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine has provided a much needed breakthrough after decades of growth, as an innovative vaccine for malaria in phase 3 clinical trials and currently undergoing implementation studies. Vaccination is a potentially critical component of efforts to arrest the development and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, although little is known about the impact vaccination may have within low- and-middle-income countries.